The origins of the gondola

The true origins of gondolas are shrouded in mystery. Italy, Turkey, Greece and Malta claim that the gondola was invented within their borders.

Historians trace the earliest accounts of these boats to 1094, when Vitale Faliero, the Doge of Venice, mentioned a Gondolum in a letter to the people. To prevent a revolt, he "donated" gondola-like boats to the people and said they would help facilitate their movement within the city.

The first visual representation of a gondola dates back to the 1400s by the famous artists Carpaccio and Bellini in paintings preserved to this day. It was not until the 15th and 16th centuries that gondolas were built and used for navigation in Venice. During this period, gondolas looked different than they do today. Used mainly by the city's ruling class, gondolas were meant to flaunt the owner's wealth with luxurious ornaments. In the 16th century, the Italian government imposed a ban on excessive embellishments and ordered that all private gondolas be painted black, a practice that continues today.

In the 17th century, towards the end of the Italian Renaissance, some 9,000 gondolas sailed regularly through the city's canals, connecting citizens to different districts. Their design has been optimized over the years to better serve as passenger vehicles-or water cabs, as they are often called. Today, nearly all of Venice's 400 gondolas follow the same construction guidelines.

Building a Gondola

It takes about two months to build a gondola, and only those who have mastered the necessary technique and adhere to a strict code (the mariegola) are allowed to build one. Each gondola is strikingly similar to the next. Gondolas weigh about 600 kilograms and measure about 11 meters in length. The boats are built to sail seamlessly through Venice's narrow system of canals and walkways. Although the bottom is flat like that of a canoe or kayak, the similarities with these boats stop there. Gondolas are asymmetrical, longer and narrower.

Interestingly, each gondola is made from eight different types of wood: elm, mahogany, birch, oak, linden, cherry, walnut, and larch. Each serves a different purpose, allowing the boat dto stay afloat and carry maximum weight. To balance the weight of the gondolier, the port side is wider and 9 inches higher than the section where the gondolier itself sits. Acting as a counterweight to the gondolier is the iron, a piece of metal that sits at the bow of the boat. It also helps keep the gondola level above the water. The only ornament is the risso, a decoration in the shape of a seahorse found at the stern.

One of the key parts of any gondola is the fork attached to the stern. Made of walnut, the forcola is designed with a special curve and has several hooks where the oar can be placed, depending on the gondolier's needs while rowing. To prevent the boat from turning on itself while rowing, the gondolier draws 'C' or 'J' shaped oars using the forcola as a support.

Gondoliers

The gondolier is the key figure that best represents Venice in toto. We know them as the gentlemen dressed in black and white striped shirts, black pants, nice and smiling when approached by a tourist, but gondoliers are members of an ancient and noble profession, a community with very complex traditions. Previously, starting in the 16th century, gondoliers acquired the right to practice this trade as an inheritance. The title was passed down from father to son for generations. They were more than just tour guides: gondoliers were the keepers of the city's secrets and scandals.

Today, to become a gondolier, one must attend rowing school, where one studies the physics of rowing, improves one's physical strength, learns a foreign language and becomes familiar with the city's history. After training, students are required to pass a highly competitive test administered by the Gondola Authority, must then do an internship and take the final practice exam. Only after passing all the exams are they awarded a gondolier's license.